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Originally Posted On: https://floridaindependent.com/fresh-steps-how-to-make-carpet/

 

Are you looking for ways to keep your carpet looking as new as the day that you installed it in your home?

Perhaps you just purchased new carpet and are being proactive in trying to help it keep its youthful shape. Maybe you’ve had the carpet for a while but have noticed lately that it’s looking incredibly worn out.

Whatever the case might be, there are several things that you can do to either revitalize or refresh your carpet’s current look.

Here are several tips for how to make carpet look and smell new again. Put all of these tips to action on your floors today.

1. Soak, Don’t Scrub

The first tip in this article is made to correct a mistake that many homeowners make on a daily basis.

If you’ve spilled a drink or your animal urinated in the house, then your natural reaction might be to grab the nearest rag and the bottle of Resolve to scrub it out.

However, scrubbing the spill will do further damage to your carpet. It will permeate the area by scrubbing the stains and germs into the fibers of your carpet.

Instead of scrubbing, you need to soak up as much of the spill as possible. grab your favorite carpet spot cleaner and spray it over the spill. Then take your towel/rag and gently dab at the entire area.

Within seconds you’ll notice that the spill is starting to disappear. If you need help finding the best spot cleaner, then take a look at this article on the best carpet spot cleaners ideas for assistance.

2. No Shoes, No Damage, No Problem

Some people are afraid to install a no shoes in the house policy because they figure A) it will be too difficult to enforce and B) it will make you look like a stickler in front of your friends.

However, both beliefs are entirely false. The no-shoes rule won’t be hard to enforce because after a few times of reminding someone, they’ll automatically remember your rule from then on. People will understand the reason for your no-shoe policy in your house.

Shoes can be a huge detriment to your carpet because of all the dirt and debris that they can bring in from the outside.

You might think that it won’t be as noticeable if you have brown or beige carpet, but you’re wrong. Over time, the dirt from outside will noticeably flatten and stain even the darkest of carpet colors.

3. Buy the Right Vacuum

Vacuums are a dime a dozen on the market. They come in so many sizes, shapes, and even colors to try and sway you to pick them over the rest.

There are many industries out there with products and brands that are so derivative of each other that you’d be just as satisfied buying the cheapest option… the vacuum industry is not one of them.

You’ll want to spend a bit more on one of the top brands (such as Dyson or Shark) so that you can have a consistent clean each and every time.

However, you should also consider buying a vacuum that’s relative to the amount of carpet in your house.

For example, if you only have a room or two that contains carpet, then you probably don’t need to spend any more than $250 on a vacuum. But if your house contains mostly carpet, then the vacuums that run for $500 or more are much more justified.

4. Baking Soda Now, Vacuum Later

Looking for an old household remedy to kick your carpet cleaning up a notch? If so, then you can’t go wrong with harnessing the power of baking soda in your endeavors.

If you’re planning on vacuuming that day, then be sure to lay down baking soda on the desired carpet area around 5 to 10 minutes prior to you vacuuming that area.

The baking soda will get rid of the smell or odor that you might have been catching within the past few days or weeks.

It’s also a tremendous alternative to things such as carpet fresheners, which can be quite a costly purchase over time.

Of course, if you try the baking soda trick and aren’t satisfied with the smell, then you can always resort back to the carpet cleaner options.

5. Be Mindful of High Congestion Areas

When someone says “high-traffic areas” to you, there are probably several areas of your house that immediately come to your mind.

Such high congestion areas might be places such as your stairs, your hallways, the entryways to your house, etc.

These high congestion areas need special attention because they receive the most amount of spills, steps, and stress.

You can prevent these spots from undergoing faster wear and tear by placing down rugs or mats to absorb most of the blow. Of course, always make sure to remove the mats or rugs and vacuum the carpet underneath while cleaning.

It might also be helpful for you to vacuum over these high traffic areas twice to provide a bit more support and keep them looking as fresh as the rest of the house.

How to Make Carpet Look New: Patience and Effort

That carpet that’s undergone years of steps won’t look brand-new after your first go-through with these new tricks.

Use these tips on how to make carpet look new and remember to give yourself a bit of time before you see measurable results.

Be sure to browse our website for more articles on house cleaning, as well as many other helpful and informational topics.